1869 Virginia gubernatorial election

Virginia's elections of 1869 occurred during the post-American Civil War Reconstruction Era and included African-American candidates and so-called "carpetbaggers", politicians from the North, often former Union Army officers, who ran in elections in southern states then under the authority of the Federal government and U.S. Army. The election included the 1869 Virginia gubernatorial election held on July 6, 1869, to elect the governor of Virginia. Gilbert Carlton Walker was elected as a "True Republican" defeating H. H. Wells, who was running as a "Radical Republican." Walker switched his party affiliation to Democratic in 1870.

1869 Virginia gubernatorial election

← 1863 July 6, 1869 1873 →

Nominee Gilbert Carlton Walker Henry H. Wells Party Republican Republican Alliance Conservative Radical Republicans Popular vote 119,535 101,204 Percentage 54.15% 45.85%

County results Walker:      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Wells:      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Henry H. Wells Republican Elected Governor Gilbert C. Walker Democratic

Elections results brought 21 African Americans to office in the Virginia House of Delegates and six to the Virginia State Senate.^[1] Thomas Bayne was a party leader among the African-American group, although he lost the election when a White Republican ran against him in the same election, splitting the vote and allowing a Democrat to win.^[1]

Gubernatorial election results

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1869^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative Republican	Gilbert Carlton Walker	119,535	54.15%
	Radical Republican	Henry H. Wells (incumbent)	101,204	45.85%
	Scattering		14	<0.01%
Total votes			220,753	100.00%
	Conservative gain from Radical Republicans